APPROVAL has been granted for a temporary school building to increase capacity at the Orsett Heath Academy based on Thurrock Rugby Club's site in Grays.

At last night's meeting of Thurrock Council's planning committee approval was given to the proposal, submitted last month, which will mean 120 pupils can start there in September.

The temporary fix follows the failure to start work on a complete 1,200 pupil school on part of the site at Blackshots, which was given approval in August last year. Work has been delayed following the collapse of the company that won the contract to build the new school. Caledonian Modular Ltd, an off-site-modular contractor, was the Department for Education's preferred bidder for the design and construction of the new permanent building on the site.

Councillors had agreed to the plan, despite their concerns over the design and functionality of the new building, because of the urgent need for new school places in the area.

The cost of the temporary building will be met by the Department of Education.

Steve Munday, head of the South West Essex Community Education Trust which currently runs Williams Edwards School, and Ortsett Heath, addressed last night's meeting. His presentation can be seen in our video.

Cllr James Halden was one of the councillors who spoke up for the temporary scheme, saying: "I think this application is largely a slam dunk. This is how we want educational provision to happen in the borough. I think this is a perfectly elegant solution that buys us time."